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In a week where national media have brought to our attention the horrifying story of a Florida teenager committing suicide because of cyberbullying and the subsequent arrest of two teen girls accused of stalking her, we felt renewed optimism when reading our Friday report about Villanova University students.

The 18 college students have spent their fall break here in Fort Smith, helping Arkansas Valley Habitat for Humanity build a home. They’re providing physical labor to raise walls, secure support beams and install Sheetrock, and within a week’s time, their hard work is visible.

“I really like working on this site; it is really cool to see it start from nothing but the foundation and seeing how far we’ve come,” student Caroline McCarthy said.

In addition to their physical labor, the students are living the week more simply.

“All week, we are focusing on living meagerly and within our means,” group adviser Nick Tumolo told us. “We leave behind cellphones and try to provide real-life examples of what it is like to feed a family on $5 a week and avoid living in excess.”

The group is staying at the Central Presbyterian community house, relying on meals from volunteers, even splitting up into groups of six and preparing meals for each other for $5.

“We only have so much to spend and we aren’t using our cellphones or much technology while here,” student Lizzie Garrison said. “Without relying on technology, we really get to know each other and enjoy this experience and also get to sense what it’s like to live within your means.”

Student Patricia Murray noted that it’s easy to get wrapped up in student life. “Going here allows you to step back and realize that there are more important things going on,” she said.

Helping others. Living within your means. Limiting a dependency on technological devices. These are lessons these 18 students will carry with them, and hopefully pass on to others they meet.